Whitney Port

The most real girl on Reality TV.

Whitney Port doesn't know how to be fake. When she starred on MTV's hit series The Hills, she was the only friend of Lauren Conrad who never caused any phony drama, and who wasn't afraid to give Lauren tough love. It was Whitney who told her to take the summer internship in Paris instead of hanging out with her loser boyfriend, Jason; who said she was better off without Heidi in her life; who convinced Lauren that if you don't feel "the spark" with a guy you are dating, you should just move on. Now on her own show, The City, Whitney needs a little of her own advice.

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As the show comes back this fall for its second cycle, her life is full of drama. She is quitting her job at Diane von Furstenberg and starting at the public relations firm People's Revolution under the critical eye of Kelly Cutrone, who will also mentor Whitney as she builds her own fashion line. She is getting over her flaky musician ex, Jay, and has started dating like crazy. And even though her best friend from high school, Roxy Olin, is moving to New York to be by her side, her nemesis and former coworker, Olivia Palermo, will still be in the picture as they cross paths in the cutthroat fashion world. Offcamera, Whitney has already proven that she has book smarts—she graduated with a degree in gender studies from the University of Southern California (after trying out communications, business, and fine arts first), and that she's talented—this month marks the one-year anniversary of her clothing line, Whitney Eve, which she is wearing in these photos. But she revealed to Seventeen that she wants to prove that she's much stronger, smarter, and more real than she's ever been before.

17: How different is your life since The Hills?

Whitney Port: When I went on The Hills, I never showed my personal life. It was always about my career life—I thought people could take me seriously because they'd see I'm a hard-working girl. Then when I chose to do The City, I took the next step to show my personal life. But I like to think that people will keep taking me seriously because I've shown that my head is still screwed on straight, I am motivated, and I do have a serious job.

17: Did Lauren give you any advice?

WP: Lauren and I are not very dramatic people. We're very rational, and we don't like to fight. She said, "Be yourself, keep your eye out for people who are just trying to do this for fame, and use this opportunity to your fullest advantage to help you do what you're passionate about doing."

17: Is that why you started designing?

WP: I'm not designing clothes because I am on a reality show. I wanted to be a designer before this all happened. I really want people to see me as a fashion designer first because it is what I've always wanted to do.

17: Being on TV has affected The Hills girls a lot. It looks like Heidi, Audrina, and Stephanie have completely transformed themselves with plastic surgery. Do you feel that same pressure?

WP: There is a lot of pressure. I think it's hard to have a camera in your face every day. If you're not already confident about how you look, then you're going to want to do things to change it. I don't blame them for it; I don't think they did something wrong. I firmly believe that if you're really unhappy with something, then you should go ahead and change it. But at such a young age, it's a little bit scary. And I don't think it was necessarily needed. But people get caught up in what they're supposed to look like.

17: But there are always cameras in your face too! How did that affect your romance with Jay?

WP: I was crazy about Jay when I met him! Even though the cameras were there, it was a real, instant chemistry. You could just feel it. And it was great, because I was new to the city and he introduced me to so many people—and I had this insta-life, and I was so happy. But it got to the point where it wasn't spontaneous anymore. We just couldn't keep each other guessing, and there was no mystery because we always had to analyze or overanalyze things to live the relationship on the show. It got difficult. I really wish we'd met at a different time, because I think our relationship could have been something great if it wasn't so magnified.

17: What was it like the first time you kissed?

WP: Mmm—it was amazing! A kiss tells so much. And I had kissed him that first night I met him.

17: Was your on-camera breakup real?

WP: I don't ever do anything based on what the producers think is going to be a good finale; it's not how I live my life. So with Jay, I just said it was just getting to be too difficult. We were leading two separate lives—his music had come first, and that was fine. I never held that against him. But I realized it was time for me to really make my own future and learn who I was. I just felt like I was too young to be in such a serious relationship.

17: Was the split hard for you?

WP: I feel like I was heartbroken twice. I had to relive it on television—which was not fun. So I had to go home and be away from the situation for a little while. You have to let time heal it. It's so hard in the moment—you can't picture yourself with anybody else. And sometimes you never get over it. Like, I think about my first boyfriend from college constantly. My mom always says you never get over your first love.

17: Do you feel like Jay played you?

WP: I think Jay is a player. And sometimes a player can be attractive. Sometimes you want that—to just have fun.That was our relationship at first. But then it got to the point where I said, "I just want you to be with me. Don't play games with me anymore."

17: Was it hard for you to actually tell him that?

WP: When I'm fed up and I'm not getting what I need, I'll say, "What's the deal? What do you want from this?" I'm not someone who's going to sit around and wait. If a guy says, "I want to be with you," then great. If not, I cut my losses.

17: Are you dating now?

WP: I've been dating a lot. I've met some very interesting people, and I've had some horrible blind dates. One guy took me to dinner, and when the check came, he said, "How about we join forces on this one?" I thought to myself, When you go on a date, you expect the guy to pay for you. And then at the same time, Why should a guy have to pay for you? So we ended up splitting it. But you'd think that when you're on camera, you'd try your hardest to be respectful and gentlemanlike! Maybe he just wasn't into it and wanted to cut me loose! [Laughs.]

17: Do you kiss on a first date?

WP: I have always been kind of a prude. But kissing is harmless to me, and sometimes a kiss can tell if it's even worth seeing that person again!

17: You had some rocky times with Olivia—like when she took credit for your work at Diane von Furstenberg. Did that shock you?

WP: Yes, that was difficult. Olivia is willing to step on people's toes in order to get what she wants— which I think is a quality you have to have in the fashion industry. But I think there are other ways do it. Not malicious ways, but by working extremely hard and taking initiative.

17: Did that experience change you?

WP: I was very intimidated working at Diane von Furstenberg. But I have become more assertive, and I am not afraid to speak up. When I have an opinion, I say it.

17: Has Kelly Cutrone given you any advice?

WP: Kelly gives me a lot of advice. The main thing is that when you're putting yourself on the line, don't be afraid of failure. And also that I need to stay true to myself and not be knocked down by those who don't necessarily see my point of view.

17: What do you think about Kristin Cavallari saying that she's going to create drama on The Hills?

WP: Who really wants to see people causing drama just for the sake of causing drama? I think some people get caught up in it. But I don't want attention for attention's sake. And I'm not going to do anything just for shock value. I think that it is possible for life to play itself out and for there to be real drama without anyone having to fake it.